Second group of homes in Sayreville razed

The second phase of demolitions of homes of the Christie administration’s $300 million post-superstorm Sandy buyout program began Wednesday on Weber Ave. in Sayreville.
(Photo:
Photo by Ed Pagliarini
)

SAYREVILLE – Lou Szabo of South River watched as the home he grew up in was reduced to rubble.

"It's a shame," said Szabo, whose family moved into the home at 15 Weber Ave. 49 years ago. "It was one of the first houses on the street. Everybody's been here a long time, but it's just too much. It's the third time this house has gotten flooded. This time, it was up to the second floor. The basement was filled twice. The lower level was filled a few times after that, and that's only in a matter of six years. It's like opening up a window and throwing your money out."

Szabo said that while his mother, Linda, knew the buyouts were coming, "she didn't think it would happen this quick."

The home was among those razed Wednesday under the state's buyout plan. Demolition of about 47 Sandy-damaged homes on Weber Avenue and neighboring MacArthur Avenue is expected to be done in June and July. Four homes purchased through the Blue Acres Program were demolished in March.

The demolition contracts have been bid through the state Division of Property Management & Construction.

The second phase of demolitions of homes of the Christie administration’s $300 million post-superstorm Sandy buyout program began Wednesday on Weber Ave. in Sayreville.
(Photo:
Photo by Ed Pagliarini
)

The Blue Acres buyout program

The homes are among the 1,300 properties in Sandy-impacted communities and other towns, including Manville, that have repeatedly flooded and are slated for buyouts under the $300 million Sandy Blue Acres Buyout Program, launched in May 16, 2013. The program purchases Sandy-damaged dwellings in flood-prone areas from willing sellers at prestorm values.

To date, 193 property owners have accepted the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) buyout offers in Sayreville and South River, two Middlesex County municipalities that suffered significant flooding when Sandy's storm surge pushed from Raritan Bay and into the South River. The DEP has closed on 116 of those homes. Offers also have been accepted for 39 homes in Woodbridge. More than 900 homes have been identified for acquisition so far statewide.

"The buyouts program demonstrates the Christie administration's commitment to move families out of harm's way of future storms and to give them a chance to restart their lives," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. "These demolitions are part of the final step in the process, returning these properties to a natural state to serve as open space and buffers for future storms and flood events."

Borough Councilman Art Rittenhouse said it hasn't been decided what will be done with the open space.

"We have to see how many residents are left, and at some point, we're going to look to see what we can do," he said. "There is always need for recreation, but you also have to take into consideration the flooding. You don't want to put things in that have to be replaced should it flood."

In addition to Sayreville and South River, the DEP has either secured funding or is targeting funding for potential buyouts in other communities, including another section of Woodbridge and East Brunswick.

The DEP also has engaged in dialogue with officials and residents in such municipalities as Old Bridge and Linden, which are being considered for a next round of buyouts using a recently announced second round of federal Sandy buyout dollars, once that funding receives formal federal approval.

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will provide 100 percent of the funding for buyouts in Sayreville, South River and Woodbridge, according to the DEP. Additional federal funding is expected to be provided through the $1.46 billion second round of federal Community Disaster Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds allocated to New Jersey by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The second phase of demolitions of homes of the Christie administration’s $300 million post-superstorm Sandy buyout program began Wednesday on Weber Ave. in Sayreville.
(Photo:
Photo by Ed Pagliarini
)

DEP addressing residents' woes

The DEP has created a special team in its Blue Acres program to work closely with sellers and process their applications as quickly as possible.

But some homeowners, who have been offered less than what is owed on their mortgages, have said their buyouts have stalled.

Fawn McGee, director of the Blue Acres program, said she is aware of the issues and case managers are working with the residents.

"We have had four successful forgiveness of debt from banks," she said. "I think the highest was $73,000. It's working. We just recently started to build better relations with Freddie (Mac) and Fannie (Mae)."

Working with New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Authority, the group has added four HUD counselors to the team, McGee said.

"Now when we go on the road and do our kickoff meetings, we take our HUD counselors and say if anyone believes you might be in this situation, we are going to have specific people to talk to you and walk you through the process," McGee said. "We've learned that roughly 10 to 15 percent of these folks could be in this situation and so we've worked on building up a team to address this special need.

"It can take time, so residents who think they might be in that situation should let as know as soon as they become aware. We don't want one or two homes left behind, not because people didn't want to leave, but because they have no other options."

Rittenhouse said the residents also can contact borough business administrator Dan Frankel, who is in close contact with the DEP.

Theresa and Marty Kuczynski's Weber Avenue home is the first to be demolished as part of the DEP's Blue Acres buyout program. STAFF VIDEO BY JASON TOWLEN

Some residents staying

Maryann Grabowski watched tearfully as her neighbor's home was reduced to rubble.

"It's a sad thing," she said, adding that her family has resided in the neighborhood for 46 years. "We signed up for the buyout, but my husband, Frank, and son want to stay. This was the first time we really flooded, but it didn't reach the first floor. We had a little seepage over the years, but nothing like this storm. It was a tsunami. A boat came up to the front and rescued us.

"It was horrible, but as fast as the water came in, it went out. At first, I felt bad that our neighbors are leaving, but now we've accepted it. When we built this house, the only neighbor we had was the one across the street. It will be like old times again. We have flood insurance and we're staying."

Homeowners interested in selling their homes through the DEP's Blue Acres Program may call 609-984-0500.